11 cops quizzed in Stacy's death

ELEVEN police officers of the Central Police Division are the subjects of an investigation into the death of Caroni mother of three Stacy Ramdeen, who died during a police raid at her house.

The officers, who are stationed in the Central Division Task Force and Chaguanas CID, have been asked to give statements relating to what happened on November 8.

An inspector of the Homicide Bureau (South) has been appointed to investigate the case.

Contacted yesterday, the inspector said the information was still being gathered in the case and the investigation is at a "sensitive" stage.

Ramdeen, also known as Ameera Mohammed, was pronounced dead at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where she was taken by police officers who conducted a raid at her house at Ibis Gardens.

Police initially reported Ramdeen had swallowed cocaine during the raid and died.

However, an autopsy done by State pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, stated the cause of death as asphyxia.

The post-mortem report also indicated she suffered from chronic heart disease, which could have led to her death.

The family had a second autopsy done at a funeral home by Dr Hubert Daisley, who found the cause of death as strangulation.

Daisley's findings were not accepted by the State.

Ramdeen's husband, Evans Petamber, has written letters to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams appealing for them to intervene to have another autopsy done so that it can be placed on the State's record what caused her death.

Ramdeen was a practising Muslim for 15 years. Her body has not yet been buried and it remains at a funeral home.